Wine Forum of Oklahoma planned for April 3 & 4 at Oklahoma State University

Friday, March 13, 2009

Inaugural event features wine and culinary experts
 
Oklahoma State University’s School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration will host the inaugural Wine Forum of Oklahoma Friday and Saturday, April 3-4, on the Stillwater campus.
 
The forum will offer wine enthusiasts and professionals educational seminars, wine tastings, cooking demonstrations and vintner dinners.
 
Funds raised from the Wine Forum of Oklahoma will provide scholarships for HRAD students in the College of Human Environmental Sciences. The students will handle the hands-on chores for the event.
 
Keynote Speaker Tim Hanni is one of the first two resident Americans to successfully complete a formal examination to earn the title “Master of Wine.” He also holds the title of “Certified Wine Educator” from the Society of Wine Educators and is a professionally trained chef. Hanni has been involved with a variety of wine and food related businesses, education and research for over thirty-five years. He will present “Vines to Wines” on Friday, April 3, at 1 p.m. in the OSU Student Union Theater and “Why You Like What You Like” Saturday, April 4, at 12:30 p.m. in the same location.  
 
Nationally known wine educators G.M. “Pooch” Pucilowski and Christi Dufault will join VanDuzer Vineyard winemaker Jim Kakacek and OSU professors Bob Miller and Eric Stafne as presenters in educational seminars. Kurt Fleischfresser, proprietor and chef of The Coach House in Oklahoma City, and Robert Merrifield, proprietor and chef of Tulsa’s Polo Grill will share their expertise on wine pairing during cooking demonstrations both days.
 
Vintners and chefs come together on Friday evening, April 3, for the Grand Tasting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the courtyard of the College of Human Environmental Sciences.
 
Master Chef Alain Sailhac, executive director of the French Culinary Institute in New York City, will be the celebrity chef for the Gala Patron Dinner and live auction at the forum’s conclusion Saturday evening in the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. Author Michael Wallis will emcee the evening’s activities and auctioneer Jay Litchfield will donate his services for the live auction.
 
Dr. Steve and Sue Gerkin of Tulsa serve as the co-chairs for the event. David Egan and Brian Hester serve on the executive committee as chef and vintner chairs. School of Hotel and Restaurant Clinical Instructor Phillipe Garmy is the Wine Forum director.  He is assisted by Events Manager Susan Anderson who will direct hotel and restaurant administration students in managing the various events for the forum.  
 
Honorary co-chairs Marilynn and Carl Thoma, OSU alumni and owners of Van Duzer Vineyards, provided seed funding for the Wine Forum of Oklahoma.  They anticipate the event will be an opportunity for vintners and educators to extend their knowledge and appreciation of wine. For details on the event and ticket information visit www.wineforumofoklahoma.com .